No other car in recent history has created
as much buzz as the Renault Duster did. A brand not very familiar to Indians until then, Renault became a household name following
the prodigious success of the Duster. Many studies have been conducted
on what made the Duster such a popular choice and all of them pointed to
one conclusion -- the originality and freshness in design backed by compelling price-value equation.
Building on the success of the Duster, Renault is
entering the small hatchback segment with the Kwid. Is the Kwid suitably
armed to snap at the heels of the entrenched competitors in this
segment? I spent a whole day in Goa with the Kwid to find that out.
Design
The Renault Kwid is a breath of fresh air in the boring entry-level
segment. At the first glance, it’s difficult to figure out whether the
Kwid is a hatchback or an SUV. In fact, it wouldn’t be an overstatement
to call it a crossover of a hatchback and an SUV or even a shrunken
Duster.
Raised
bonnet, a rugged grille, high ground clearance (180mm) and flared wheel
arches give the car an SUV-ish stance. The big, bold headlamps are
nicely detailed and the bonnet has got power bulges. The two-piece
‘chain link’ grille houses a large Renault lozenge logo and the
well-sculpted
bumpers protrude far out from the grille. The
13-inch wheels might sound like a misfit, but in fact, they add to the
tall stance of the Kwid. Plastic cladding on wheel arches and doors
carry forward the muscular looks to the sides as well. It’s only from
the rear that the Kwid actually looks like a small car. However, the
rear design, too, is fresh and seamlessly gels with the overall styling.
Renault is also offering 60 optional accessories to deck up the Kwid to
suit the customer’s taste.
Interiors
There are quite a few surprises inside the cabin as well. The first
thing to catch anyone’s attention is the segment-first touch screen
infotainment system. The same unit inherited from Duster and Lodgy
offers multimedia, Bluetooth telephony and satellite navigation. The
centre console finished in good quality piano black plastic panel houses
two neatly integrated AC vents that look premium but feel pretty
flimsy. The dials, power window switches and central locking button are
placed below the infotainment screen. The overall quality of the
dashboard is remarkable, thanks to good plastic quality and sensible use
of chrome.
The
Kwid gets a completely digital instrument cluster that displays instant
mileage, distance to empty, average consumption and other necessary
indicators. The steering wheel looks and feels upmarket, with piano
black inserts and chrome Renault logo on it.
While the car offers premium features such as touchscreen, drive
computer, lane change indicator etc., it is surprising that the side
mirrors are very basic. It’s a hassle to stretch your hands out to
adjust them, however, they are fairly large in size and offer good
visibility.
With
2,422mm wheelbase, Kwid is the most spacious car in the segment. It
offers class-leading head, shoulder and legroom. The front seats with
integrated headrests are spacious and supportive while the rear bench
lacks thigh support. The transmission tunnel is fairly low and the rear
seat can easily accommodate three passengers for short drives, however,
it will be a bit of a squeeze during long trips.
There are many storage areas of various shapes and sizes, including a
three-stack glove box. Door panels have bottle holders and cup holders
are offered on the centre console. Boot space is liberal at 300 litres
and has been optimised to ensure maximum storage. Overall, the Kwid’s
cabin will certainly exceed the expectations of a small car buyer.
Performance
The Kwid is powered by an all-new, all-aluminum, 800cc
three-cylinder engine that develops 54PS@5,678rpm and 74Nm of torque
@4,386rpm. The engine transmits a lot of vibration
into the cabin when it's idling, although it does settle down at a
steady cruise. The power delivery is smooth and you can drive around the
city without having to shift gears frequently. The max torque is
produced at 4,386rpm, but 80 percent of it is available from as low as
1,200rpm ensuring great drivability.
On
the highway, the three-cylinder unit needs to be worked hard and it
sounds thrashy when the pedal is floored. However, the most important
requirement in this segment the fuel efficiency and the Kwid impresses
with
25.17kmpl, which again, is best in the segment.
Renault has confirmed that they will bring an automatic variant
of the Kwid in the near future. The company is studying the feasibility
of an AMT version as well.
Ride and Handling
The car's size and tight turning circle are a real boon in
town. The suspension does a good job of taking the sting out of big
potholes and bumps while keeping the body movements in check at speed.
MacPherson struts at the front with a lower transverse link keep
bodyroll under control.
The light steering is great for city driving, but it's also
vague and doesn't self-centre properly. Renault cars in general strike a
good balance between ride and handling and the Kwid is no different.
Considering the segment it belongs to, Kwid really impresses in this
department as well.
Safety
Renault says that the Kwid’s body structure is designed to meet
both current and future Indian crash test regulations. Well, that’s a
very diplomatic way of explaining it and doesn’t justify the absence of
ABS -- even on top variant. But, the good news is that airbag is
available as an option, only for the driver though. However Renault is
pretty confident that the crash structure is strong enough to avert most
incidents.
Bottom-line
Renault has already established a strong credibility in India
with more than 1.3 lakh Dusters alone sold in the country. The French
carmaker is also expanding their network and expects to have more
than 200 dealerships and service outlets by end of 2015. So, the time
is opportune for Renault to enter the fiercely fought entry-level
segment. Moreover, Renault promises the lowest overall ownership cost in
its class and with 98 percent localisation of parts, maintenance should
be affordable, too.
The
Kwid is uniquely attractive, amply equipped and offers adequate power,
comfortable ride, best in class cabin space and impressive mileage. In
short, Renault has kitted this little stunner with everything a
discerning small car buyer is looking for. I won’t be surprised if the
Renault Kwid makes a huge dent on the market share of Maruti and Hyundai
in this segment.
Renault will soon launch the Kwid at a price range between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 4 lakh.
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